$ EUROPE- GRANIC STRASBOURG, Jan 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic, Tuesday said that the Strasbourg talks he held this morning were raising hopes that Croatia would enter a procedure for admittance into the Council
of Europe.
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$ EUROPE- GRANIC
STRASBOURG, Jan 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic,
Tuesday said that the Strasbourg talks he held this morning were
raising hopes that Croatia would enter a procedure for admittance
into the Council of Europe. #L#
"The talks are raising hopes that we will enter the procedure,
and I would say that the entire atmosphere of the talks has been
very good," Croatian Foreign Minister said after the meeting with
the Council of Europe secretary-general, Daniel Tarschys, the
newly-elected Parliamentary Assembly chairwoman Leni Fischer, and
its former chairman, Miguel Angelo Martinez.
At the talks it was said that the Political Committee would
consider Croatia's admittance in March, so that a plenary session
in April may discuss the admittance of Croatia into the Council of
Europe.
The Croatian minister and his interlocutors talked about the
situation in the region, particularly the reintegration of the
Croatian Danubian areas, normalization of relations with Belgrade,
the developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and especially in the
Federation, the situation in the liberated Croatian areas, the
cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal, and the
ties between Croatia and OSCE (Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe).
Speaking about the reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Granic
voiced a hope that the occupied area would be demilitarized
peacefully. Commenting on the relations with Belgrade he stressed
that it was important that Serbia supported a process of the
peaceful reintegration. He told his interlocutors that Croatian-
Serbian negotiations were under way.
Speaking about the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Minster
Granic said that "Croatia accepts arbitration unless agreement is
reached" on cantons. Croatia also accepts the arbitration of EU
Administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik. It has also offered to the
European Union 100 policemen as part of joint police force with the
Bosniac (Moslem) side in Mostar.
Speaking about the situation in the recently liberated areas
Granic gave some data: 1888 persons are under the investigation, 10
are under temporary arrest and investigations of their cases will
end soon.
Talking about Serb refugees Granic said that so far 4673
persons had applied for the return, and 738 cases of them had been
solved.
He stressed that Croatia would continue to cooperate actively
with the International War Crimes Tribunal, based in The Hague. He
told Council of Europe officials that the Croatian Government would
put in parliamentary procedure an act on cooperation with the Hague
Tribunal at the beginning of the next month.
Granic added that Croatia was ready to accept a long-term OSCE
mission.
This afternoon Granic is due to hold a press conference and
meetings with three rapporteurs.
(hina) jn mms
231703 MET jan 96